FOR the fourth straight year, the AFL’s pre-season competition will use a four-week format with each club playing three matches.

Unlike previous pre-season tournaments, the JLT Community Series will not declare a winner and will instead act purely as a warm-up for the regular season.

Each team will get at least one week off in the first three weeks, culminating in the final round of matches where all 18 sides will take part.

The Gold Coast Suns will head to Mackay during the JLT Community Series. It didn’t go well for the Brisbane Lions in 2016 when heavy rain hit. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

VENUES

AS the name suggests, the JLT Community Series will head out into the community to allow footy fans to watch their favourites at local grounds.

Footy will return to a sold-out Arden Street when North Melbourne hosts Hawthorn during the second week while a host of new locations are set to feature over the four-week series.

Gold Coast will host matches in Merrimac and Mackay while the NSW sides will play in Narrandera, Coffs Harbour, Albury and Rooty Hill.

South Australian fans in Mount Gambier and Noarlunga will be visited while Geraldton and Mandurah will host matches involving the WA sides.

Meanwhile Victorians won’t necessarily have to head into Melbourne or Geelong for matches with games to be played in Cranbourne, Moe and Bendigo.

COVERAGE

FOX Footy will broadcast every game of the JLT Community Series live and exclusive with no ad breaks during play.

For the best live coverage, news and analysis from the JLT Community Series you can also head to foxfooty.com.au.

Live stream EVERY game of the JLT Community Series on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week FOXTEL PLAY trial and start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW >

RULES

WHILE the JLT Community Series will see some tried-and-true pre-season experimentation, we’ll also get our first chance to look at the changes made for the 2017 premiership season.

The third man up in ruck contests is banned, with all stoppages restricted to two nominated ruckmen.

A stricter interpretation of deliberate rushed behind will be applied. But solely for the pre-season, a free kick won’t be given when a behind is judged as deliberate. Instead when deliberate rushed behinds occur a behind will be recorded and play will be resumed via a ball-up 14 metres out from goal.

Meanwhile a modified interpretation on high tackles, with the intention of allowing shruggers, duckers and arm lifters to receive fewer free kicks, will be implemented.

Teams will be allowed to have eight players on the bench with unlimited rotations, while the Supergoal — worth nine points when kicked from outside of the 50 metre arc — is back as well.

In the first three weeks of the pre-season competition quarters will be 20 minutes, with the first 15 minutes having no time on except after goals and for significant delays in play. In the last week of the JLT Community Series matches will revert to the regular length.

The third man up has been banned for 2017. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

FIXTURE (All times AEDT)

WEEK 1

Thursday February 16

Collingwood v Essendon at Etihad Stadium (7.40pm)

Friday February 17

Hawthorn v Geelong Cats at University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston, TAS (7.40pm)